INSTRUCTIONS
You will create a research guide on a topic of your choice, geared toward a specific audience. In some cases, people find it easier to begin with a topic that they are interested in, and then find a library/archives/audience that would benefit from a pathfinder on that topic. In other cases, students have chosen a library/archives that they like or have a connection to, and then developed a topic that would benefit a particular community within that setting.  If possible, interview a reference librarian(s) to learn more about their collection, patron groups, user needs. Based on real or perceived needs, choose an audience and a topic for your guide using LibGuide software.

SPRINGSHARE
You will use a platform called Springshare to to create and build your LibGuide. Your instructor will set up individual sandbox accounts for each student; you will receive an email directly from Springshare with your login information. Make sure to check your spam folder for the Springshare email.

RESEARCH GUIDE
Begin with an intro covering:

The institution this research guide is for: public/academic/school/archives/other.  Give a brief description of the institution you choose: How large is it in terms of collections, staff, patron community?  Describe the general community that makes up its user base.

Define the specific audience for your pathfinder- who is this pathfinder for?  What are the characteristics of this group, how large a population is it, what are their specific needs with regard to this topic?

Explain your topic and define the specific scope of your work.

The body of the research guide should consist of:

20-25 reference resources on your topic, appropriate to your intended audience, and composed of thorough yet concise evaluative annotations for each. All annotations should be original and in the student’s own words.

Cite all sources in APA format

Conclude with:

A Further Research/Next Steps section: this should include some brief notes to the patron suggesting some methods to continue research on their own.  This could include any additional resources they might want to follow up on (these do not need to be annotated), suggested keywords and subject headings, special collections, etc.

A few things to remember:

Be sure all resources are relevant to your specific topic.

Be sure that all resources are appropriate (in terms of content, reading level, scholarliness, etc.) for your specific audience.

Be sure the annotations are geared toward the intended audience.

Organization is important—what is the best way to arrange your materials for this topic and for this audience? Is it a chronological look at the development/history of the topic?  Subject/topical arrangement? Format of the resources? Choose an organizational scheme that makes sense.